External/ internal GPS antenna Forums

asgard

I am in the process of installing a sat nav system and I have to mount the GPS antenna . It is a difficult discission as to where to put it.

I could mount it inside the front windscreen on the dash but it is an overcab unit --signal strength. I could stick it on the side next to a window --not a good look. out the roof light but cable on the surface internally or roof mount.
That is the one I want but passing the cable through the roof is a concern. The unit has a plug about 12mm square and this is on 5 m of cable. I wanted to take it out a vent and inside the cupboards but too far from vent to control.

Silicon mastic is very good at sealing but still need convincing.

If you have fitted one externally where and how did you seal it ??

Snelly · Eastern Rally Co-ordinator

I bought a magnetic external antenna for mine and routed the cable through a grommet in the bulkhead into the engine bay. I then stuck the reciever to the wing, with the option of opening the bonnet and putting the reciever out of sight in the engine bay when not being used..

I got it off ebay, it was about £15 ish.

vicdicdoc

We have an overcab & found that with the external aerial placed on the inside of the front windshield [in the centre] we got a near perfect reception for our GPS - no need to start drilling holes in the roof !

bill

I got an external antenna for my Tom Tom Classic recently. I decided to go for no drilling. To do this I mounted the receiver on a bit of stiff cardboard cut to size to fit the small roof light. I then draped the cable across the roof (inside) towards the luton then down the left side of the windscreen (held in place with bluetac) and across the dash to the unit.

On stopping the cable can be easily coiled and placed in the luton and the unit removed from under the clip on the ducato dash. (I've put the mount on a piece on smooth plastic that goes under the clip.)

It's not the neatest of jobs but it works well for me. The difference in the signal and the holding of it is amazing.

All the best with your solution.

bill

Cowly

Hi Asgard

I also have an overcab with a metal roof, so fitted the antenna in the roof vent under the top lid, but on the inner vent with double sided tape, and run the cable to the top lockers, then under the cab lining down the side of the windscreen and under the dash.

the reception is 100%, 9 - 10 sats, I fitted 2 antennas, 1 for the small garmin GPS in the cab, and 1 for the computer to be used in the back, if the girls (10+11) travel with me it keeps them occupied with the computer, as they navigate from the back, well they think they do Laughing

Colin R......

m3cuf

Hi Asgard,
Had the same problem with my tomtom and the over head cab so i bought the external ariel and fed the wire through the front roof light and tucked it behind an wooden bead 6" away,then went through the overhead bed and behind the cab roof and behind the windscreen pillar and onto the dash,took me a couple of hours to figure it all out but looks good and im pleased with the finish and improved signal strenghth.

peedee

Hi,
Generally there is usually enough of a gap between the cab doors and the body to route a cable that way without drilling any holes. I have done this with a CB aerial mounted on my wing mirror. Just check your doors and judge for yourself where the biggest gap is, I found mine by the hinges although on my car it is at the opposite end of the door. The rubber seal may pinch the cable a bit but it has little if any effect.

peedee

Grizzly

We did the same as vicdicdoc. The external aerial sits in the trough at the front of the dashboard. We intended to stick it up outside but have not found it necessary.

We've just come back from a month in Europe and found the aerial ( attached to a TomTom 700) worked perfectly every time. We zipped round Paris twice on the peripherique, under Bancelona and through other cities with no problems. Before we added the external aerial we used to lose the satellites quite often.

Mind we did lose the satellites in High Wycombe on the way back this morning...!

G

jb6981

I have a Tom-Tom 700 on a Hobby 725, I kept losing the signal because of the luton overhang; I attached the external ariel to the off-side external door frame by feeding the cable over the internal door grab handle and round the door seal and placing it on the trailing edge of the door halfway up the window area. The door seal does not pinch the cable when the door is shut and I never lose the signal. Works a treat, when I stop I just remove the ariel and leave it in the cab.

jb6981

asgard

Many thanks for all the replies.
Cowly :-- I did like the inside the rooflight idea and I will investigate that one. I want a permanent fixing . I am using the Kenwood DVD sat nav unit.

I might extend the wire and place it behind a vent on the roof, location of choice, as no drilling but fully open location .

I have posted for advice on adhesives for plastic to aluninium in another tech topic.

Lots of good ideas , will post final solution.